Fastening device



Jan, 5, 1932. R. G. MEADER FASTENING DEVICE Filed July 22, 1931 biles.

Patented Jan.' 5, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT vOFFICE RUSSELL G. MEADIELR, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO SCOVILL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT FASTENING DEVICE Application -ied July 22,

This invention relates to fastening devices adapted particularly for securing floor and the like coverings in the bodies of antonio- 'llie principal object of the invention is to provide a fastening device for detachably securing rubber-mats to the floors of automobilev bodies, and although the invention will be hereinafter described iii reference to this particular application, it is to be understood that its use is not intended to be thus limited.

rllie invention consists in a fastening de'- vice, comprising a nail, tack, spike or other driven member, provided with a punch element and having a head flange. This device is adapted to be driven through the rubber mat yso that the driven member enters the floor and the punch element cuts an opening- Figure l is a top plan view of the fastening device of the inven`tion, Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view thereof, Fig. 3 is a side elevation thereof, and Fig. 4 is an axial sectional elevation thereof. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the fastening device applied to a rubber mat or the like covering. Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation of the device, similar to Fig. 4,'and showing the saine in use. Fig. 7 shows the device as illust-rated in Fig. 3 but in use, as shown in Fig. 6, the mat being depicted as being partially released 4or unbuttoned.

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 illust-rate modified foi-nis ofthe punch element.

The fastening device, as shown particularlyin Figs. l to 7 inclusive, includes a nail, tack, spike, orother driven member having a shank 1, a head 2, and a point 3, the shank preferably being roughened in any appro- 193i. seriai No. 552,522.

priate manner, as indicated at 4. JApplied to the head 2 by means of a cap 5 is a tubular punch element 6, having its leading yedge flared and sharpened as indicated at 7, and provided with an o'standing lip 8 around which the cap is closed as indicated at 9 to hold the punch element and driven member in ixed'asseinbly. rhis cap, closed around the lip 8, provides an offstanding head flange which form-s a button-like head.

The fastening device, as hereinbefore stated, is adapted particularly for applying rubber mats to the wood floors of automobile. bodies, and inuse is installed as follows The rubber mat 10 is laid upon the floor ll yin desired position and then, at suitably disposed points throughout its surface area, a plurality of the fastening devices is applied. These-fastening devices are simply driven, with a hammer or other appropriate tool, through the mat 10 and into the floor 11, as shown in Fig. 6, the flared, sharpened edges 7 `of the punch elements thereof cutting openings in the mat of such size that, due to the resilience of the mat, the walls of these openings willlightly contact with the outer sui'- face's of the punch elements, and the head flanges will overlie the portion of the mat surrounding these openings. Obviously, the portions of the mat, indicated at 12, which are cut from the mat by the punch elements are retained within the punch elements.

With the mat thus secured to the floor by means of the fastening devices, it-will be apparent that it may be readily released or unbuttoned from them, inthe manner illus` trated in Fig. 7, by simply stretching the openings to such anextent that they may be of the `device is located slightly above the exposed or upper surface of the mat, thus facilitating the buttoning and unbuttoning of the mat. The fastening devices are prefer- ,e ably driven in to this extent, but itk does no harm if the edges ofthe punch elements slightly 'enter the floor. However, the devices should not be driven in so far that their head flanges will pinch the mat, as it Would then be difficult to release or unbutton the mat from the fastening devices and to again apply it to them.

In Fig. 8 the punch element 6 has a lip 8 similar to and for the same purpose as the lip i8 of the 'punch element 6 previously described,-but the cutting edge instead of being flared and sharpened is merely sharpened as at 7 and thus the opening cut inthe mat will be smaller than that cut by the flared and sharpened edge 7 of the punch element 6 and the Wall of such opening Will more intimately and frictionally engage the Wall of the punch element. In this figure, also, the driven element or nail 1 is shown as having a smooth shank, but this is not essential, the roughened shank being preferred.

In Fig. 9 the punch element 6 is shown as having its flaring leading edge serrated or toothed,` as indicated at 7, to facilitate its penetration of the mat, the leading edge thus serrated being sharpened or not, as desired.

In Fig'. 10 the leading edge of the punch element 6a is serrated, asindicated at 7a, but

- is not flared, and may be sharpened or not as desired.

It will thus be seen that the device of the 'invention provides a means whereby floor tions, it being necessary only to initially correctly position the mats and then drive the fastening devices through themats and into the floors in appropriate positions relatively thereto, as described.

Various changes in the construction and arrangementlof the parts of the fastening member provided vvith a head, a tubularl punch element, and means for uniting said driven member andY punch element, said means providing an offstanding head flange.

5. A fastening device, comprising adriven member provided with a head, a tubular punch element' having al lip, and a cap applied to said head and closed upon said lip to unite the driven member and punch element, said cap providing a head flange.

6. A fastening device, comprising a driven member provided with a head, a` tubular punch element having a lip and a flared and. sharpened leading edge, and a cap applied to said head and closed upon said lip to unite the driven member andpunch element, said cap providing a head flange.

7. A fastening device, comprising a nail, and a punch'element carried thereby, said device having an offstanding ,flange providing a button-like head.

8. A fastening device, comprisinga driven member provided with a tubular punch element having a serrated leading edge, and said device having an offstanding head flange.

9. A fastening device, comprising a driven member Aprovided With a tubular punch element having a serrated and flared leading edge, and said device having an offstanding head flange.

In testimonywhereof I have hereunto set my hand this 17th day of July, A. I). 1931.

' RUSSELL G. MEADER.

device are contemplated as Within ,the spirit y of the invention and the scope of the following claims. e 4

What I claim is y y 1. A fastening device, comprising a driven member provided with a punch element and having an offstanding head flange.

2. A fastening device, comprising a driven member provided With a tubular punch element and having an offstanding head flange.

3. A fastening device, comprising a driven member provided With a tubular punch cle- 'ment having a flared leading edge, and said device having an offstanding head flange.

4. A fastening device, comprising a driven 

